Posted on 07/07/2020 5:52:19 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
Yesterday was the day appointed by the Governor of New-Jersey for the execution of the sentence imposed upon JACOB S. HARDEN for the murder of HANNAH DORLAND HARDEN, his wife. The facts connected with the death, arrest, trial and conviction, have, in full details, been given to our readers, and it now remains for us to present the last dark picture in the tragedy, and leave the rest to be settled between the murderer and his Maker. Is a pretty country town, at the further end of the State of Jersey, nestled snugly and sweetly in the valley of Pequest. It is the shire town of the County of Warren, and the place where HARDEN was tried, convicted and sentenced. For many a long month there has been no such crowd of gaily-dressed, merry-hearted, though less people, as were gathered there yesterday. At the Warren House, the proprietor was compelled to put three and four in a room, besides sending fifty or sixty into his spacious barn, where they slept like tops on the freshly gathered hay, and were woke by the cocks in the morning. The bar-room was filled with noisy, brawling fellows -- some discussing religion, others politics, some the desired execution, and others the propriety of all hands taking a drink. One thing led to another, and the liveliest dance-house on Mercer-street couldn't boast of a wilder scene of bacchanalian revel than was presented there and elsewhere in that quiet little town of Belvidere.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: Sometime in the future.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.
Posting history, in reverse order
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.
The last public hanging in the state of Florida was here in panhandle’s Okaloosa county early 1900’s.
Newspaper report of the day said it was like a carnival atmosphere, people bringing picnic lunches on blankets on the courthouse grounds. People came from many miles around for the spectacle, brought their children and had a good time.........................
And the kiddies all went home with a lesson in what could happen if you did horrid criminal acts. We were a much more civilized country in those days.
I read the article. Seems like a botched execution.
So Mr Historian, working up to and through the civil war this decade ? Followed your WW2 daily report with rapt attention.
If I’m not already on a list to link me to it, put me on it
“Botched?” Not at all in the thinking of the time.
A short drop hanging was legal and would have been acceptable had the hangman so determined, and a long drop equally so. The belief that breaking the neck causes immediate death or even immediate unconsciousness is a myth that persists among many people to this day.
The doctors’ examination makes reference to death by “apoplexy”, an umbrella medical term of the day which corresponds to our modern idea of what happens to the brain when someone has a “stroke”. They thought he died mercifully in other words and that he lost consciousness quickly.
Some will say any execution which results in the death of the murderer is not botched. I agree with you that a hanging can be done badly and can be botched depending on the standard applied by the law and society.
The US Army’s 1947 “Procedure for Military Executions” includes a drop chart. You may find the manual interesting reading:
https://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/pdf/procedure_dec-1947.pdf
You weren’t on the roster before, but you are now. Welcome aboard, again. There’s no news today but we will be posting again tomorrow.
Thank you.
In the article
They mention it should have broken the neck but did not
The Iron Harp. [Column 2]
Every Presidential candidate, who approaches Pennsylvania, thinks he must twang the iron harp. Douglas struck the harp gently the other day, when he passed through that State, as follows:
”Pennsylvania has the element of an empire within her own limits; all the elements of greatness, whether you look at her natural, her commercial, her manufactures, at the raw material, the mineral wealth -- everything which contributes to make a great country, is to be found within the limits of the Keystone State. [Applause.] And, in my opinion, the people of Pennsylvania have come to the conclusion that the Congress of the United States can be better employed in developing the great material resources of the country, than in wasting time by forcing slavery or anti-slavery upon the people.” [Applause.]
They always applaud in that State when the iron harp is touched. "Polk, Dallas and. the Tariff of '42" was a sweet song there. This is a queer logical paradox. Pennsylvania is a great State. She has all the elements of greatness within her own bosom. One would think that such a very superior State might go alone; but her very greatness makes it necessary that she should have the fostering care of Congress. It is as if one should say that a mother had an extraordinary supply of the lacteal element of material growth and greatness in her own bosom, therefore, her child must have a foster mother -- be put out to nurse.
How can Congress develop the material resources of Pennsylvania? By paying one of her citizens, when he earns a dollar, forty cents additional; and taking it from a citizen of some other State, not so bountifully blessed with all the elements of greatness? That is the Pennsylvania idea. If Pennsylvania is so great by nature, let her stand on her own bottom, and not be forever bawling to be nursed.
Hung by a Mob [Column 3]
Chicago, July 6. – Kephart, the murderer of Mrs. Willis and two children, near Batavia, Iowa, was hung at that place yesterday, by a mob numbering about two hundred and fifty.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.